Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserpink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Balserpink’ characterized by its single inflorescence form with pink-colored ray florets and blue-colored disc florets, freely branching character, dark green-colored foliage, and compact and upright growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of plant claimed: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Variety denomination: ‘Balserpink’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balserpink’.

The new Osteospermum originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during July 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Osteospermum cultivars that are freely branching, have a compact and upright growth habit, are freely flowering, and have unique inflorescence coloration.

The new cultivar was the result of the open-pollination of the commercial variety of Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Mira’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,082, characterized by its dark purple-colored ray florets with darker purple stripes and medium green-colored foliage. Seed from the above stated open-pollination was germinated and grown to maturity. One plant from within the progeny was discovered and selected by the inventor during November 2002 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since November 2002 at West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type, with all the characteristics as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balserpink’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Single inflorescence form with pink-colored ray florets and         blue-colored disc florets.     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage.     -   3. Freely branching character.     -   4. Compact and upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in inflorescence color and foliage color.

Plants of the new cultivar are most similar to the cultivar Akavol, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differed from plants of ‘Akavol’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Akavol’.     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have shorter internodes than         plants of ‘Akavol’.     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have different stem coloration         than plants of ‘Akavol’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describe the colors of the new cultivar. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 14 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of the new cultivar with one plant per pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of individual inflorescences of the new cultivar showing the change in color as the disc florets mature.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, suth as temperature, light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Sep. 24, 2004 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago. Ill. in 10 cm pots for 14 weeks while utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60°-75° F. (15°-24° C.) during the day and approximately 45°-55° F. (7°-13° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels were maintained at 5,000 to 9,000 footcandles during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Balserpink. -   Parentage: Open pollination of the Osteospermum ecklonis commercial     variety ‘Mira’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,082. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approxumately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 10-13 weeks from a rooted cutting             in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit.—Compact, freely branching.         -   Form.—Upright.         -   Size.—Height: Approximately 29.3 cm from soil level to top             of plant plane. Width (area of spread) — Approximately 27.4             cm.         -   Branch.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 4. Strength:             Strong. Length from soil level to base of peduncle:             Approximately 24.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.7 mm.             Internode length at middle of branch: Approximately 1.2 cm.             Texture: Glabrous, becomes woody with age. Color: N144D with             overlay of 187C.         -   Foliage.—Quantity per branch: Approximately 28. Type:             Simple. Fragrance: Faint, pungent. Arrangement: Alternate.             Aspect: At an acute angle to the stem. Shape: Elliptic.             Apex: Acute. Base: Decurrent. Margin: Widely dentate.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length: Approximately 5.8 cm.             Width: Approximately 2.6 cm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous with moderate pubescence along margin.             Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 137A             with venation of 145B. Color of lower surface of mature             foliage: Closest to 147A with venation of 145B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 13 weeks from planting             of rooted cutting.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with substantially continuous blooming from             spring through autumn and year round in greenhouse             environment.         -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Solitary, terminal.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Approximately 6-10 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance/type.—Composite, persistent. Shape: Round.             Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Disc and ray florets             develop acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance: None.         -   Quantity of inflorescences and buds per plant.—Approximately             1 inflorescence and 2 buds.         -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 6.9 cm. Depth: Approximately             2.4 cm.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3-6 days for buds to             progress from first color to fully open inflorescences.             Shape: Elliptic. Diameter: Approximately 1 cm. Depth:             Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 20,             arranged in two whorls. Arrangement: Overlapping. Aspect:             Flat to slightly concave. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Emarginate             with three tips. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Length:             Approximately 3.7 cm. Width: Approximately 9 mm. Texture:             Glabrous. Color: Upper surface: 74B at tip, 74C in center             and 83D at margin and near base when first open and 74B at             tip and 75C in center when fully open. Lower surface: 85A             with ribs of 86B when first open and when fully open.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm. Depth: Approximately 5             mm.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Cone. Diameter: 2.5 mm. Depth: 6 mm.             Color: 145D.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 105.             Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:             Tubular with five lobes each having an acute apex. Margin:             Entire. Length: Approximately 8 mm. Diameter at apex:             Approximately 3 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 1 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color of immature florets: 99A. Color of             mature floret: N78B         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 19.             Arrangement: Imbricate. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base:             Truncate. Margin: Entire. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm.             Width: Approximately 1.9 mm. Texture of center of             inner/upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of center of             outer/lower surface: Strigose. Color of center of             inner/upper surface: Closest to 144C. Color of center of             outer/lower surface: Closest to 144B. Texture of margin:             Glabrous, papery. Color of margin: 157B, transparent.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 10.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.7 mm.             Texture: Strigose. Color: N144D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 4. Anther shape: Linear. Anther             length: Approximately 2.5 mm. Anther color: N89A. Amount of             pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium: Present on             ray and disc florets. There is one pistil per floret. Pistil             length: Approximately 5 mm. Stigma shape: Cupped. Stigma             length: Approximately 0.5 mm. Stigma color: N89A. Style             length: approximately 4 mm. Style color: N155B. Ovary             diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm. Ovary color: 145C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Osteospermums has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserpink’, substantially as herein shown and described. 